Burst pipe floods lung group’s site

Officials believe a burst pipe flooded a regional headquarters for the American Lung Association in Richmond, displacing operations from the building for weeks or months.

Sometime late Friday or early Saturday, a pipe apparently burst in a second-floor conference room in the building in the 9200 block of Forest Hill Avenue, officials said, although they had not determined for certain what caused the flooding.

The damage was discovered Saturday after 2 inches of water collected throughout the building's second floor. Officials said yesterday that they were assessing the damage and cleaning up.

A damage estimate was unavailable.

Melina Davis-Martin, president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association of the Atlantic Coast, asked the community to help find the organization temporary offices, and that donations would help.

The building is closed for business until further notice.

The two-story office building has about 5,100 square feet and has been home to 15 employees. The regional office serves communities in Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

-- Reed Williams